Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles

Ninjas are very bad, or at least that's the BBFC's view. When the marketing wave pushed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles over to Britain, the censors were quite clear in what would have to go.

The title couldn't be so obviously pro-ninja. The Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles were born.

The theme tune clearly would have to be changed, not only to refer to the new name, but to get rid of the reference about Splinter teaching them to be ninja teens. 'Splinter taught them to be fighting teens' was clearly more acceptable.

Another cause for annoyance was the fact the turtles were kitted out with ninja weapons. The swords, staff and forks were well known already to British audiences. The turtles, however, also carried a sinister form of arms clearly linked to ninjas.